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This game is not only terrifying, it's almost disgustingly realistic. Go out and buy it at once.

From the moment you load up, and haunting music ushers you into the forbidden forest, you realise Robin Hood was on to a cushy number.

It's not just Teddy Bears who picnic in the woods, you know. Giant spiders, bees, snakes and dragons are all on the look-out for a quick snack. That's you, of course,

Armed with your trusty long-bow, the only way to survive is to keep running and shoot everything on sight. If your aim isn't 100% then you end up chomped, burnt, stung, or squashed to death.

First there are the giant spiders, who rush out from behind the trees to pursue you through the forest. As you run, the scenery scrolls past you in impressive 3D.

Once you've dealt with the spiders, it's on to the giant bees - more difficult to hit, but mercifully less intelligent. If they don't sting you to death, then huge frogs descend from above and reduce you to pulp... Ugh!! That's not... blood.., is it? Sure is. Never knew you had so much in you, did you?

As time passes, the moon slowly rises, and the skies darken, making your targets more difficult to hit. The atmosphere is tremendous, and each attack wave is accompanied by soul-chilling, blood-spilling music.

If you succeed in killing the spiders, the bees, and the frogs, you'll have to face the dragon. Ominous chords herald his approach as hc swoops in across the trees for a twilight barbecue. At this point you don't actually smell the aroma of burning flesh, but watching the poor chap squirm in agony is bad enough.

The dragon is very difficult to hit, but if you do manage to get in a lucky shot, don't get too cocky. The next wave will have you spooked. Literally.

A vast spectre looms up in the distance. In the foreground skeletons rush through the trees with spears raised to skewer you. Don't they just love running you through, kicking their legs and smirking with delight as they perforate your struggling body.

Don't say I didn't warn you. This isn't a game for the faint-hearted. The way to escape the skeletons is to get the spectre between the eyes. It's not easy, but if you succeed the next ordeal isn't quite as arduous, though no less impressive. A vast snake rears its head into the sky, spitting flame. Any archer worth his salt can send the snake to Hades in double-quick time, but the chances are that he'll be following hot on his heels, The final threat of the Forbidden Forest is almost impossible to escape.

It seems that all the charming woodland creatures that have come to welcome you to their playground are the pets of the Demogorgon. Apparently killing them was something of a social faux-pas on your part, and their owner is a bit peeved.

The screen goes dark, there is a crack of lightning, and in the brief glimmer of light you can see something enormous towering over the forest. That something is the Demogorgon. If you don't get him in 60 seconds, he comes for you. Then there's no escape...

The game has some nice touches, including the facility to continue from where you left off when you start a new game. This means you can work your way through all the attack waves without having to start again at the beginning each time you run out of lives.

You can adjust the trajectory of your arrows using sights at the side of the screen, though these are difficult to see once night has fallen.

The action takes place to some great music. Add to that the rising and setting of the moon, and the lengthening shadows of twilight, and I think you'll agree that the atmosphere of this game is almost unbeatable.

So there you have it. One day in the Forbidden Forest, ten years off your life and a few white hairs into the bargain. Stop fooling around with aliens and get on down to the woods today.